Questions Answered: GM Hire Date, New Guy Interviewing for HC, Death of the Zimmer Defense
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today’s is the January 19th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: When will the Vikings actually hire a general manager after all these interviews?
A: We estimate about one week from now (around January 26th).
The search was always going to take weeks, not days. Two weeks’ worth of interviews is a reasonable timeframe to conduct the search — balancing enough time to speak with men and women about the gig while not missing out on head-coaching hires that will fly off the board soon. Remember — the Wilfs insist the new general manager choose the head coach, which is smart.
The next person to lead the Vikings in the GM spot can reasonably hold first interviews (and perhaps second interviews with someone like Nathaniel Hackett) next week. Bank on the GM announcement in about one week, give or take a couple of days, of course.
Q: Do you like Raheem Morris interviewing for the head coaching job?
A; The decision to be the first team chatting with Morris this cycle is fantastic.
Why? Well, think about it. He is the candidate specializing in defense and offense. Look at this chunky resume from Stathead:
Isn’t it wonderful? With the Atlanta Falcons, Morris departed from his normative defensive tendencies, pivoting to offense from 2016 to 2019. Morris’ shift is somewhat of a coaching rarity.
Morris certainly can’t be classified as the frontrunner for the job, but his rich and diverse work background mandates his seat at the table. Kudos to Vikings ownership for the smart olive branch.
Q: The Zimmer defense was so good for so long. What do you think happened to it?
A: Believe it or not, this answer is easy. And it is twofold.
Foremost, the departure of Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Linval Joseph, and Everson Griffen (for a season) really rocked the boat — and nobody (including us) wanted to stomach it during 2020 free agency. Those men were a nucleus, not easily replaceable. Zimmer lost “his guys,” and folks (again, us included) thought his brilliant defensive mind could compensate for the mass exodus. That was wrong.
Next, Danielle Hunter missed all of 2020 and didn’t play after the 2021 Halloween loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Hunter was the engine to Zimmer’s defense, generating a pass rush unmatched by his purple peers. Hunter mattered — a lot.
In his absence, the hodgepodge of D.J. Wonnum, Jalyn Holmes, Sheldon Richardson, etc., tried admirably, but those men simply aren’t as dynamic as Hunter.
And Zimmer was unable to drag his personnel to proficiency. Call it the demise of a defense-first coach.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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